The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Wal-Mart Stores, Green Mountain Coffee
Roasters, Safeway, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage and NextEra Energy
PR Newswire
CHICAGO, March 5, 2013
CHICAGO, March 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Zacks.com announces the list of stocks
featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts
discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets.
Stocks recently featured in the blog include Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT),
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (Nasdaq:GMCR), Safeway Inc. (NYSE:SWY),
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC) and NextEra Energy Inc.
(NYSE:NEE).
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101027/ZIRLOGO)
Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit
from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513
Here are highlights from Monday's Analyst Blog:
Walmart Expands Solar Capacity
Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) along with SunEdison, which is a
leading global solar energy services provider, has completed solar power
installations at three Wal-Mart stores in Hawaii. The three Walmart stores of
Kahului, Kailua-Kona and Kapolei will now be powered by renewable solar
energy, generating more than 400,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of solar electricity
in its first year of production and eliminating 320 metric tons of carbon
dioxide annually.
Walmart is focused on expanding its solar program in the islands and is geared
up to complete installations at the Honolulu Sam's Club and Mililani Walmart
on Oahu and the Lihue Walmart on Kauai.
Earlier, in Apr 2012, Walmart had announced 6 more solar projects in Colarado
in partnership with SolarCity, which installs, owns and maintains solar power
systems for Walmart. These six installations are expected to generate nearly
three million kilowatt hours of renewable energy per year and avoid spreading
more than 5 million pounds of carbon dioxide into the air. Colorado expects to
produce 30% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
Walmart had also entered into a partnership with SolarCity in Sep 2011 to
install solar-power panels at more than 60 stores in California, creating
solar power for 75% of its stores. SolarCity has installed solar power panels
at Walmart stores in California, Arizona and Colorado.
We believe that Walmart has got a good opportunity to expand and accelerate
its solar power initiative program. Besides creating jobs and protecting the
environment, these solar projects have also reduced costs for local businesses
by lowering power bills.
Walmart is using new renewable technologies to achieve its goal of supplying
100% renewable energy to its stores. We thus remain confident that Walmart
will continue to grow its solar energy program in the U.S. and around the
world.
Walmart holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Retail and wholesale stocks that are
presently doing favorable business include Green Mountain Coffee Roasters,
Inc. (Nasdaq:GMCR), Safeway Inc. (NYSE:SWY), and Natural Grocers by Vitamin
Cottage (NYSE:NGVC). Green Mountain holds a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while
Safeway and Natural Grocers carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
NextEra Sheds Hydro Assets
NextEra Energy Inc.'s (NYSE:NEE) business wing NextEra Energy Resources LLC
concluded the sale of its entire equity interest in White Pine Hydro
Investments LLC to a subsidiary of Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners L.P.
NextEra Energy will receive approximately $760.0 million as proceeds from this
transaction, subject to closing adjustments, which also includes the current
$700 million of non-recourse debt. The agreement for the divestiture of
interests was previously announced on Dec 21, 2012.
The White Pine asset portfolio comprised of a total of 351 megawatts ("MW") of
hydroelectric generation properties in Maine and New Hampshire and is licensed
to NextEra Energy Resources' ancillary, FPL Energy Maine Hydro, LLC. Annually
the generation capacity from these units totals 1.6 million megawatt-hours.
Although the company is disposing all of its hydropower plants in Maine,
NextEra will still be left with roughly 800 MW of oil-fired production
capacity in the region.
The hydroelectric assets are situated across three major river systems -- the
Kennebec River System, the Saco River System and the Androscoggin River
System. The resources at Maine include hydroelectric generation facilities
along with interests in eight storage reservoirs in New Hampshire as well as
in Maine. A project is also located in the Presumpscot River System.
The purpose behind the asset sale is to focus on power generation in areas
which have higher prospects. The company intends to utilize the gains from
this transaction to plough back in renewable programs of wind and solar as
well as in expanding its natural gas midstream businesses.
We believe the company's sizeable renewable basket will lend significant
upside to returns, going forward. The expected rise in renewable consumption
in the coming years on account of increasing preference for clean energy
generation in the U.S. will further complement NextEra's growth trajectory.
Want more from Zacks Equity Research? Subscribe to the free Profit from the
Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5515.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative
analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the
long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded
stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights
to developments that affect company profits and stock performance.
Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the
latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter
today: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5517
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed
in 1978 by Leon Zacks. As a PhD from MIT Len knew he could find patterns in
stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his
many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking
system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3
to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and
market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email
newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of
Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free
subscription to Profit from the Pros at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5518.
Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance
numbers displayed in this press release.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors
should always research companies and securities before making any investments.
Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell
any security.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
http://www.zacks.com
SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.
Website: http://www.zacks.com